Can Medications Really Affect Your Gum Health?

By Stephen Rogers on August 06, 2017

One day you wake up and realize your gums are bleeding, tender, and swollen. You’ve never been prone to gingivitis before, so why the sudden change? You brush, you floss, and you always keep your routine dental appointments. You may be asking yourself what you’ve done wrong.

Chances are, you could be experiencing a side effect from a new prescription medication. Often, poor gum health and medications are related. Ask yourself if your doctor has given you any new prescriptions recently. Even the slightest change in dosages or prescriptions can affect your oral health. Our doctors at Greater Long Island Dental in Long Island, NY provide procedures in restorative dentistry that can help prevent and treat oral health issues.

How Do Certain Medications Affect Gum Health?

Some prescription medications cause your gum tissue to work overtime. Your gums can actually begin to grow at an abnormally fast rate, resulting in gingival overgrowth. While your gums may simply appear slightly puffy at first, the problem can continue, causing the gum tissue to cover portions of the teeth. This swollen gum tissue is a breeding ground for bacteria, which can result in gingivitis or even chronic periodontal disease.

What Types of Medications Can Affect My Gum Health?

Sometimes it can be challenging to determine which medications may be affecting you. Because each patient is unique, with specific biological makeup, the answer will not be the same for everyone. If you have noticed a correlation between your gum health and a new prescription medication, you have a pretty good idea about what caused the inflammation. However, sometimes it’s not that cut and dry. Many times, it requires trial and error to determine which medications are irritating your gums. However, some commonly known drugs that can cause gingival swelling include:

Blood pressure medications

Anti-seizure medications

Calcium channel blockers

Immunosuppressant drugs (used after organ transplants)

Antidepressants

Oral contraceptives

What Other Problems Can Be Caused by Medications?

Though gum inflammation is one of the more common problems caused by prescription medications, there are other oral health issues that can occur as a result. Some of these include:

Xerostomia (dry mouth)

Candidiasis (fungal infection)

Mouth ulcers

Tooth decay

Mucositis (inflammation of the inside lining of the mouth)

Tooth discoloration

Restore Your Health with a Variety of In-Office Treatments

If your oral health has been negatively impacted by prescription medications, it is important to address the problem immediately. We offer various treatments to help restore your health and return your smile to its original brilliance. From periodontal care to dental implants to same day crowns, our doctors will help you determine a treatment plan that will meet your needs. Our entire team is dedicated to excellent patient care, and we take our commitment very seriously. If you have any questions or concerns, just ask. We are here to provide quality dental services in a comfortable and friendly atmosphere.

Schedule a Consultation with Us Today

If you are experiencing signs of poor gum health or dental concerns of any kind, it is important to schedule an appointment right away. Treating dental issues proactively helps stop symptoms from worsening. Our doctors can create a personalized treatment plan to address your specific needs, so you can get back to enjoying life. Call us at (516) 468-7103 or contact us online anytime.